The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-11-03
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught by q Study OF the Intsl
national Sunday-school Lesson Appointed n
Nov. Is. st. Matt, III :2-l5.


TIsT.
To understand this lesson more fully one
should read st. Luke z: 1928.
Chapter 10 of st. Matt. tells how our Savior
commissioned his II Apostles, sending two by
two to preach the Gospel. We may date the
lesson June, A. ID. %. The instructions and
orders to the IL were issued on n mountain
near Capernaum. The meeting-place of Christ
and the delegation sent from st. John Baptist
was probably at point near Main.
We notice that Jesus did not say Co." while
he himself was INDECENT. He also set out to
teach and preach, giving an example of dill
gence, earnestness and interest. (V. L.
st. John Baptist had been arrested and i'm
prisoned about eight months before this lesson.
Herod Antipas became enraged at him on &C.
count of his bold. personal preaching. st. John
Baptist, in the interest of public morals, had
denounced the shameful domestic life led by
Herod. "a: $50
After the commission to the ~, 10: 5-15,)
Christ set to work with great energy perform
ing his wonderful deeds and uttering his grand
sayings. Phe news spread in every direction,
until at length it reached even to the ears of
st. John Baptist.
Phe prison in which Herod incarcerated the
faithful preacher was a department of the cas-
tie at Macherus. This was fortress in the
southern part of Perea, east of the Dead Sea.
The distance between Macherus and Main was
about 90 miles. (Jos. Ant, Is, 5, /, 2.)
Hearing of Christ's fame st. John Baptist
sent two of his Disciples to Main to inquire Of
the Wonderful Worker whether or not he were
the Messiah. We cannot tell how many disci-
pies Sc. John Baptist had at that time. We do
not know anything further of the two whom
he sent. They were probably among the inhu-
entail, whose report would have great weight.
We see there was some liberty granted to him
though prisoner, he being permitted to meet
his disciples.
Why did st. John Baptist send a committee
to Christi Was he not certain Jesus was the
Messiah? He saw the Spirit descend at the
baptism and heard the words of God owning
the candidate for his Son. g.: 16, H. He had
pointed his disciples to Jesus, saying Behold
the Lamb Of GOd"i (St. John, / 36.) l. Some
hold st. John Baptist had become low-spirited
from long imprisonment. and was beginning to
doubt. Some believe that the 9th verse is q
reproof TO the prisoner himself. A fact once
held logically cannot be rooted out OF the mind
while the intellect remains sound. Christian
belief is, to q large extent, not so much q
matter % logic as OF spiritual conception
Certain students therefore think the mind
of st. John Baptist, through long wailing
and Imprisonment, became dimmed. Il HI,
19:4.) His prayer was, 81 believe; help
mine unbelief" 2. better explanation
may be that st. John Baptist sent not so much
for his own sake as that of his disciples. He
was anxious to confirm them in their belief of
Christs divinity, and wished them to go and
investigate for the establishment of their own
faith. a.. He feared his imprisonment might
discourage them, and wanted to forearm them
against dependency or doubt. b. Christ made
no claim of being the Messiah, although st.
John Baptist had taught his Messiahship. The
prisoner feared this fact might stumble his (St.
John Baptist's) disciples, and hence he sent,
asking the question, trusting Jesus would
openly assert that he was the Messiah, and so
settle the matter. C. Then eight months had
passed, and Jesus had not come to the rescue of
the prisoner. Us, 81: IL This fact might
depress him, and have also an unfavorsble
effect on the disciples of st. John Baptist. To
confirm his own convictions, and TO remove
every obstacle from his disciples, st. John sent
two of them to secure positive evidence. d.
The very lowly origin of Christ was a diff
Guilty calling for constant reinforcement of
faith. c. The disciples of st. John Baptist
also noticed great difference between Christ
and their leader-a difference which might de-
mand the Frightening up of their confidence in
Jesus as the Messiah-Jesus was cheerful,
while John was ascetic. All these facts oper-
ated unfavorably on st. Johns disciples, and he,
was anxious they should 90 to Christ
and secure proof. Christ seems 10 teach that
ST. John Baptist was not himselfso tickle, reed
like as to send disciples to find out whether or
not he jesus were the Messiah. Christ had per-
formed miracles before the imprisonment of Sc.
John Baptist Perhaps the disciples sent were
new recruits to st. John Baptist, and he wanted
them to see Christ for themselves and become
confirmed by his miracles. 3. Some hold that
st. John Baptist, having heard SO much about
someone who was doing wonderful deeds, was
eager to learn whether or not that person were
really the one whom he baptized and knew to be
the Messiah. 4. A few believe st. John became
impatient because Jesus was apparently so coy
about declaring outright his Messiahship, and
decided 10 bring matters to = head by forcing
him to IA avowal of the fact.
Christ received the committee and replied,
but not verbally. He answered by acts. 1t
was not his plan to be mighty in words and
puny in deeds. He replied Oh the object-teach-
ing plan. Thus he showed ia a most convinc-
ing manner that he was the Messiah. Christ
probably furnished these proofs on the spot for
the very purpose of meeting the questions of the
committee. lie showed them he was doing just
the very acts which the ancient prophets had
said the Coming One would do. He furnished
the following evidences, as seen IN verse of the
lesson and in st. Lu., 7:2l, -. l. He cured
the infrm. 2. Relieved the plagued. 3. Ex-
PEELED demons. 4. Gave sight to the blind. 5.
Enabled the lame to walk. 8. Cured lepers. z.
Unstopped the ears of the deaf s. Raised the
dead. .. Preached the Gospel to the poor.
Compare lsa., Oh: 49,
Here were strong reasons wherefore people
should believe in Christ. But Jesus said to the
blessed is he, whatsoever shall not
be offended in me-" (V o. There were,
however difficulties in the way Of ones accept
ing Christ. lisa, 8 A. /. The people knew
his origin. est. John, 7:27.) He was not born
at the Capital (Jerusalem), but at Bethlehem.
(St. Matt, = 81 But the very prophecies which
led the people to expect the Messiah declared
he would be born in Bethlehem. 2. He was of
lowly origin. (St. Matt, Is: 81, so; st. John,
z :l5.) But this was in Christ's favor in the
way of evidence. How could one so inferiorly
related become so great; have such wondrous
powers? 3. Then, he was reared 1T Nazareth,
n city not in esteem. (St. John, l 40; z: Al,
52.) Even the people themselves of Nazareth
took otfense that one of their number should
aspire to such prominence. (St. Matt, ID: 57.)
But an important prophecy Of the Old Testa-
ment would have remained unfulhlled had our
Savior not become o resident Of Nazareth.
A place not noted otherwise may produce
greatness Pindar was from Thebes in Boeotia,
the people of which were considered to Do dull.
The great philosopher Anacharsis came from
the Scythians, q barbarous nation. Job was
brought up among the Idumeans, who ranked
as strangers and aliens among the Israelites.
Abram was from Ur of the Chsldees, who were
idolaters. God can raise children from stones.
A. Christ's manner did not please. He was
humble and undemonStrative. They wanted